Build versus Buy - Programming Desktop

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racerrex9727

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Sep 27, 2014
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I must clarify that I'm not really looking for gaming. I am a programmer mostly building enterprise applications in Java and web technologies. I've been much more of a software than hardware guy and have never built a desktop before. I always preferred laptops to be mobile.

But now my three-year-old laptop is struggling as I'm running virtual machines and like to switch back and forth between them. I'd get a faster laptop but I need a large screen and those are going out of fashion unless I'm looking for gaming. So I think a desktop is the most pragmatic choice at the moment.

Should I build a desktop or save myself the time and money to buy this Dell XPS? Again, I'm not a hardware guy and don't have the time to oncern myself with it.
http://www.amazon.com/Dell-X8700-3130BLK-XPS-Desktop/dp/B00K0HMX3A/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1411862588&sr=8-3&keywords=dell+xps+desktop


 
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Wolfshadw
The biggest problem I have with buying an off the shelf system is all the extra garbage programs that Dell (or any other manufacturer) installs into a system whether you want it or not. Also, drivers tend not to be updated on a regular basis, if at all.

I built a similar system on PCPartPicker and it does come out to just around $1000, so cost-wise, it's pretty much a coin toss. If you really don't want to be bothered with building your own and providing your own tech support, then there isn't anything *really* wrong with purchasing the Dell system.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790 3.6GHz Quad-Core Processor ($297.27 @ TigerDirect)
Motherboard: Gigabyte...
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Wolfshadw

Wolfshadw

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The biggest problem I have with buying an off the shelf system is all the extra garbage programs that Dell (or any other manufacturer) installs into a system whether you want it or not. Also, drivers tend not to be updated on a regular basis, if at all.

I built a similar system on PCPartPicker and it does come out to just around $1000, so cost-wise, it's pretty much a coin toss. If you really don't want to be bothered with building your own and providing your own tech support, then there isn't anything *really* wrong with purchasing the Dell system.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790 3.6GHz Quad-Core Processor ($297.27 @ TigerDirect)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H97M-D3H Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($86.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Value 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($142.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($82.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 1GB Video Card ($101.00 @ NCIX US)
Case: Silverstone PS08B (Black) MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic G 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($12.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit) ($129.94 @ OutletPC)
Total: $969.14
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-27 19:44 EDT-0400

-Wolf sends
 
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racerrex9727

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Thanks Wolf, that actually makes quite a bit of sense. Actually, this setup you have here may fit the bill for what I need... a lot of memory and processing power but nothing ostentatious like a gaming computer. I'm bookmarking this and may shop around for these parts tomorrow...
 
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Karsten75

Karsten75

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You answered your own question. Just buy the Dell and be done with it. I wouldn't recommend Dell, though, I prefer Lenovo over Dell. Software like PC DeCrapifier does a great job of removing bloatware. As for drivers, in most cases it isn't necessary to keep fuxx0ring with drivers etc. once the sytem is stable and delivers the performance one requires. It is mostly for things like graphics and games where regular GPU driver updates might be important.

If you are not at all into hardware, then that is probably the simplest way to go.

However, it isn't extremely hard to build a workstation and have more than decent performance.

As an entry-level workstation, this build is not bad, a little more expensive than the Core i7 above, but I have included an SSD that allows for faster performance. My suggested processor is the same or better performance than the Core i7, but it does not have the payload of the Integrated graphics. Incidentally, if you are only going to program and you choose the Core i7 build, there is no need to get the graphics card, the integrated graphics on the COre i7 is more than adequate to drive up to 3 monitors.

From this one can incrementally increase for much higher performing builds at higher price points.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($247.94 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M PRO4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($82.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Value 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($142.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Mushkin Chronos 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($99.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Hitachi Deskstar 7K2000 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.49 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R7 260 1GB Video Card ($94.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Silverstone TJ08B-E MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($93.41 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: SeaSonic G 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($12.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro (OEM) (64-bit) ($142.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $1052.74
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-27 22:11 EDT-0400
 
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racerrex9727

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Of course. Still gives me a lot to think about. It's nice to know price is not really different, and that building my own system is not necessarily more expensive. That aside, on one hand I want to get something that works out of the box, but on the other there I can get modular control as well as no bloatware if I build my own machine. Not to mention, if I'm a technology professional (albeit a business-oriented one) it's something I probably should become proficient at. My colleagues were stunned I never built my own systems, although I changed a video card here or there in high school.
 
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